Thursday June 27

With only two days left in Buseesa, today was a day to assess
remaining tasks, divide the work, and get down to business. Much of
our time has been spent gathering broad information about he community
and putting out feelers for future projects, but we recently have
focussed back in on the biogas. We need some key information on manure
production, site layout, and water supply before we can head home and
begin design work. Some stove use questions still lingered as well,
and Marc wanted to try solving a problem with "exploding" water tanks.

Christina, our medical student from OSU, accomanied Sister Anita to
Mubende for the removal of the cast from her broken foot. John and Ed
made a rough topo map of the proposed digester site, and thought of a
possible new loaction as well. Marc, Jackie, and Christina interviewed
Rose, one of the school cooks, who supplied valuable insight into
cooking techniques and firewood use. Erin went to map local water
sources with GPS and do water quality testing.

One of the elder Ugandan teachers, Joseph, age 70, spontaneously
invited us to join him in the cafeteria at tea time. He hoped for a
chance to just sit and talk with us while there was a chance. He very
generously produced two mandaazi (a sweet roll, fried like a donut)
for each of us that he had purchased at a shop. He taught local
language, local music, and agriculture to grades 4-7. He lived 32 km
away and only returned home every other week to "take care of
problems". It was nice to slow down briefly and share some
conversation with a gentleman.

Marc, Jackie, Erin, Christina, and friend Maria planned an evening
boda boda trip to Karaguuza to investigate local supplies, and sure,
to eat out at a restaurant. They rode with Michael, Moses, and Matea
(you can do the math... three to a boda boda except for one) who
managed to show them shops that will provide a majority of necessary
building supplies only 20 minutes from Buseesa. Shops even had the
basic plumbing piping and valves that we anticipate needing. Matea
also showed the group his welding shop, where he makes metal doors,
and could be a place where more-efficient wood stoves could be
produced locally.